Coaching Outdoors

Coaching Outdoors Episode 88 - Laura Festa

Laura Festa is a mindfulness coach and somatic practitioner whose journey bridges the serene forests of Northern Italy with the vibrant parks of Beijing. With over two decades of cross-cultural experience living and working in China, Laura brings a unique blend of Eastern philosophy, Western coaching frameworks, and deep presence to her clients around the world. Founder of BEING with-in NATURE, Laura’s work is rooted in mindful awareness, compassionate inquiry, and the transformative power of the natural world. Her philosophy is embodied in the metaphor she lives by mindfulness as the roots, somatic wisdom as the trunk, and nature as the branches of a thriving inner tree. Through this lens, she invites clients to ground themselves, access their authenticity, and rediscover what it means to truly be not just do. Laura offers individual and group coaching, nature-based retreats, and embodied mindfulness practices. Her sessions provide a safe, spacious container where silence is honoured, shoes come off, and clients reconnect with both their surroundings and them. Known for her warm, intuitive presence, Laura has guided countless individuals particularly within the Chinese cultural context to clarity, personal transformation, and emotional freedom. Whether you’re navigating life transitions, cultural identity shifts, or seeking reconnection in a busy world, Laura offers an invitation: to slow down, feel deeply, and come home to your own nature. View podcasts and get in touch.  https://www.coaching-outdoors.com  Anna-Marie https://www.rfmcoaching.com  Alex https://www.alexburnconsulting.com  Paul https://pebbleassociates.co.uk/team-member/paul-jefferies/  #coachingoutdoors #outdoorcoaching #coaching #ecopsychology #ecocoaching #bluespace #greenspace #natureconnectedness #naturalenvironments #ecology #nature #environment #mentalhealth #wellbeing #coaches #coachees #movement #thinkingdifferently

Coaching Outdoors Episode 87 - Annabelle Charman

“If you'd just seen my room where I work at that time there were hundreds of post-it notes everywhere. There was lots of paper on the floor, from transcripts that have been cut off, highlighted themes clumped together. It was a very dynamic, lengthy and in-depth process, but also really rewarding” – Annabelle Charman. Self-confessed Outdoor Coach Practitioner Annabelle stepped firmly into the academic world during her research project as part of the MSc in Coaching and Behaviour Change at Henley Business School. Her decision to explore the outdoors, nature and significant life transition connections, and contribute towards the currently lacking amount of research within the outdoor and nature-connected coaching world stemmed from a love of the outdoors and tough personal experiences of significant life transitions. She gives us the nitty-gritty details of her interpretive phenomenological approach (IPA) research analysis process based on semi-structured interviews and the Bridges Transition Model. This model offers a framework to illustrate the transition through three stages from Endings, through the Neutral Zone and New Beginnings. Through the process, she discovered five key themes; a deeper connection to self and coach, self-prescription of nature, being present and change in identity.  Plus Annabelle shares how tomatoes, strawberries and mushrooms form her earliest memories as a child, how trail running deepened her connection with the natural world and her desire to share the outdoors with others led to her becoming a Hill and Moorland Leader.  Note: This episode discusses references to significant life transitions that could trigger an emotional response whilst listening. Make sure you have the support you need and look after your own mental and emotional well-being.    View podcasts and get in touch.  https://www.coaching-outdoors.com [https://www.coaching-outdoors.com]  Anna-Marie https://www.rfmcoaching.com [https://www.rfmcoaching.com]  Alex https://www.alexburnconsulting.com [https://www.alexburnconsulting.com]  Paul https://pebbleassociates.co.uk/team-member/paul-jefferies/ [https://pebbleassociates.co.uk/team-member/paul-jefferies/]    #coachingoutdoors #outdoorcoaching #coaching #ecopsychology #ecocoaching #bluespace #greenspace #natureconnectedness #naturalenvironments #ecology #nature #environment #mentalhealth #wellbeing #coaches #coachees #movement #thinkingdifferently

Coaching Outdoors Episode 86 - Frank Bolaji Irawo

"Poetry isn't about perfection, it's about presence, allowing words to flow from the heart without judgment or restriction." Frank Bolaji Irawo – The TransFLOWmation Coach, Poet, and Nature Connector Frank Bolaji Irawo is a transformational coach, poet, and advocate for reconnecting with nature. With a rich blend of Nigerian and British cultural influences, Frank’s journey has shaped his unique approach to coaching, one that integrates deep self-reflection, creative expression, and an appreciation for the natural world. Growing up in Nigeria, Frank experienced nature as an inseparable part of daily life. However, after moving to the UK, the structured urban landscape created a disconnect, one that went unnoticed until the pandemic forced him to slow down. This realisation deeply influenced his coaching philosophy, leading him to explore how presence and mindfulness can transform our relationship with ourselves and the world around us. Through coaching and poetry, Frank helps individuals create space between themselves and their thoughts, enabling them to observe without judgment and reconnect with their inner wisdom. His unique approach blends coaching with poetry, using verse as a tool to bypass logic, spark emotional clarity, and create transformational insights. Frank’s work has led him to various collaborations, including being Poet-in-Residence for Nature’s Blueprint, and an Expert Speaker at Coaching Outdoors Live at Henley Business School (June 19th – 20th, 2025), where he explores coaching in and with nature, using poetry to enhance awareness and presence. More recently Frank is working on a new collaboration with artist Hazel Thompson which they hope to reveal soon.  At the heart of Frank’s philosophy is the belief that we are enough as we are. His coaching, poetry, and nature-inspired wisdom invite people to slow down, observe, and reconnect helping them cultivate a deeper sense of fulfilment and purpose.   View podcasts and get in touch.  https://www.coaching-outdoors.com [https://www.coaching-outdoors.com]  Anna-Marie https://www.rfmcoaching.com [https://www.rfmcoaching.com]  Alex https://www.alexburnconsulting.com [https://www.alexburnconsulting.com]  Paul https://pebbleassociates.co.uk/team-member/paul-jefferies/ [https://pebbleassociates.co.uk/team-member/paul-jefferies/]    #coachingoutdoors #outdoorcoaching #coaching #ecopsychology #ecocoaching #bluespace #greenspace #natureconnectedness #naturalenvironments #ecology #nature #environment #mentalhealth #wellbeing #coaches #coachees #movement #thinkingdifferently

Coaching Outdoors Episode 85 - Philip Cowell

“The street becomes your coach…”  Outdoor arts fundraiser, wordsmith, and curious street wanderer Philip Cowell joins us from Berlin to share the joy of wiggling through life’s big (and small) questions—one walk at a time. You'll hear stories from his squiggly life and career path shaped by accidents and luck through the corporate, sustainability, and creative worlds – from playing on Folkstone beach as a child, how being rescued by a charity fundraiser secured his first job and his wordsmithing work in the sustainability sector. Philip passionately channels his energy working with David Pearl on the openly available and free initiative ‘Street Wisdom’, where, as a global community builder, he supports 200+ volunteer hosts and helps bring its transformative three-part process—Tune Up, Quest, Share—to over 25,000 people worldwide so far – and still counting!  From chance encounters to symbolic signs on city pavements, Philip shares how walking with curiosity can spark insight, foster connection, and help people reconnect with their inner swallow. Whether you're a coach, a leader, or simply seeking a fresh perspective, this episode invites you to slow down, look up, and discover the magic hiding in plain sight on every street corner.     View podcasts and get in touch.  https://www.coaching-outdoors.com [https://www.coaching-outdoors.com]  Anna-Marie https://www.rfmcoaching.com [https://www.rfmcoaching.com]  Alex https://www.alexburnconsulting.com [https://www.alexburnconsulting.com]  Paul https://pebbleassociates.co.uk/team-member/paul-jefferies/ [https://pebbleassociates.co.uk/team-member/paul-jefferies/]    #coachingoutdoors #outdoorcoaching #coaching #ecopsychology #ecocoaching #bluespace #greenspace #natureconnectedness #naturalenvironments #ecology #nature #environment #mentalhealth #wellbeing #coaches #coachees #movement #thinkingdifferently

Coaching Outdoors Episode 84 - Russ Watts

“One of the things that Nature has taught both of us, and I'd say many of my clients is to see and feel the seasons. This is a winter. This is tragic. This is end. This is death. Like the leaves have fallen. It's deep, dark winter, and you know what there's a glimmer of spring out there” - Russ Watts From a whistle and a whisper of wind in the south Sierra mountains in California, a symphony of sirens in Trafalgar Square, London and the rolling hills around Lake Garda, Russ transports us on a journey through time and space as he shares childhood influencers who’ve shaped his life’s work and insights into his coaching practice.  Transformational and performance coach, integral facilitator, adjunct professor at Georgetown University and Bocconi University, wilderness guide and practising Buddhist, Russ brings over thirty years of experience to help leaders and teams be nature bold and unlock their deepest potential through both structured coaching and immersive outdoor experiences.  Russ openly reveals his thoughts and stories about how the pain from breaking his back (not once, but twice…) and tackling crazy endurance events has shaped his identity and mindset to deepen his coaching relationships and practice; the concepts and connections of ‘I’, ‘we’ and ‘it’ within the wider ecosystem and coaching process; and the need for coaches to embrace the dark side of human nature.  From a plant to an insect, or a speck of dust that's swirling on a little thermal in his office, Russ challenges us to find the awe and joy in the moment. Plus, we touch on the three Bs of business, brand and balance, the benefit of collaborative partnerships with other outdoor and nature-connected coaches and the need to be truly authentic within ourselves and our coaching.   View podcasts and get in touch.  https://www.coaching-outdoors.com [https://www.coaching-outdoors.com]  Anna-Marie https://www.rfmcoaching.com [https://www.rfmcoaching.com]  Alex https://www.alexburnconsulting.com [https://www.alexburnconsulting.com]  Paul https://pebbleassociates.co.uk/team-member/paul-jefferies/ [https://pebbleassociates.co.uk/team-member/paul-jefferies/]    #coachingoutdoors #outdoorcoaching #coaching #ecopsychology #ecocoaching #bluespace #greenspace #natureconnectedness #naturalenvironments #ecology #nature #environment #mentalhealth #wellbeing #coaches #coachees #movement #thinkingdifferently